Apparatus to buffer vibration and support an actuator of a hard disk drive

ABSTRACT

An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive includes a pivot bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rolling member, which are installed coaxially, to support an actuator arm to pivot. The actuator supporting apparatus also includes a support structure to support upper and lower surfaces of the inner ring, and a buffer member interposed between at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the inner ring and the support structure, to buffer vibrations and impacts. Thus, a feature of buffering vibrations and impacts by the buffer member is not changed and is constantly maintained, regardless of accumulation of manufacture allowance or a change in the environment. Also, a problem in reliability of a product due to deterioration of structural strength, which occurs in the conventional actuator supporting apparatus, does not occur in the actuator supporting apparatus of the present invention.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2002-8307,filed Feb. 16, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hard disk drive, and moreparticularly, to an apparatus to support an actuator of a hard diskdrive to pivot in a radius direction of a hard disk.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a hard disk drive which is an auxiliary memory device of acomputer includes a hard disk that rotates at a high speed by a spindlemotor installed inside the hard disk drive, and an actuator that has amagnetic head to record/reproduce data on/from a track of the hard disk.

The actuator is installed to pivot around a predetermined pivot shaft. Abobbin and a coil installed at one end of the actuator is moved by anoperation of a voice coil motor so that the magnetic head installed atthe other end of the actuator moves to a desired track position andrecords/reproduces data on/from the hard disk. Here, the magnetic headwhich moves above both sides of a hard disk is lifted by a flow of airon a surface of the hard disk as the hard disk rotates at a high speedand moves, maintaining a fine gap with the hard disk. When the hard diskdrive stops or electric power is cut off during the above operation, theactuator moves to a parking area located in an inner circumferentialside of the hard disk, so that damage to the hard disk due to contactwith the disk and the magnetic head is prevented.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional hard disk drive operating as describedabove. FIG. 2 illustrates a vertical structure of an actuator supportingapparatus adopted in the hard disk drive of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a hard disk drive includes a housing 1 having abase 2 and a cover 3. A hard disk 4 in which predetermined informationis recorded or reproduced, and an actuator 6 having a magnetic head 5 torecord and reproduce information are installed in the housing 1. Also, avoice coil motor 7 to pivot the actuator 6 by an electrostatic force isinstalled in the housing 1. The actuator 6 includes a suspension 8 tosupport the magnetic head 5 to face a recording surface of the hard disk4, and an actuator arm 9 to support an end portion of the suspension 8and to pivot by the voice coil motor 7 in a radial direction of the harddisk 4. The actuator arm 9 is supported to pivot by an actuatorsupporting apparatus 10 installed in the housing 1.

The actuator supporting apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 2, includes apivot bearing 14 including an inner ring 11, an outer ring 12, and arolling member 13 interposed between the inner ring 11 and the outerring 12, to support the actuator arm 9 to pivot. The pivot bearing 14 isfixed on an upper surface of the base 2 by a first coupling member 15coupled to a mounting boss 2 a vertically extended from the base 2. Adamper 17 interposed between the cover 3 and the first coupling member15 is fixed to the first coupling member 15 by a second coupling member16 that is complementarily coupled to the first coupling member 15.Here, the damper 17 includes a plate 18 having a predetermined strengthand an adhesive layer 19 deposited on the plate 18. The damper 17adheres to the cover 3 by an adhesive force of the adhesive layer 19.Also, the adhesive layer 19 buffers vibrations and impacts transferredbetween the housing 1 and the actuator arm 9.

However, in the above conventional actuator supporting apparatus 10, dueto accumulated manufacture allowance of constituent parts of theactuator supporting apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 2, a gap may occurbetween the damper 17 and the first coupling member 15. Here, when thesecond coupling member 16 is coupled to the first coupling member 15,the damper 17 interposed between the first coupling member 15 and thesecond coupling member 15 receives a force acting downward and is pushedtoward the first coupling member 15 and closely fixed thereto. Thus, acoupling force between the damper 17 and the cover 3 adhering to eachother becomes weak so that the coupling between the damper 17 and thecover 3 is loose. The loose coupling between the damper 17 and the cover3 deteriorates a feature of buffering vibrations and impacts by thedamper 17. Also, the adhesive force of the adhesive layer 19 decreasesby a change in environment, in particular, at a high temperature, sothat the feature of buffering vibrations and impacts by the damper 17 isfurther lowered. Also, the lowering of the coupling force between thecover 3 and the damper 17 lowers a structural strength of the actuatorsupporting apparatus 10 which may deteriorate reliability of a product.

Therefore, an actuator supporting apparatus having a new structure isneeded which may not only support the actuator to pivot, but also buffervibrations and impacts between the housing and the actuator arm,regardless of accumulated allowance of a product or a change in theexternal environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide anapparatus to support an actuator to pivot and effectively reducevibrations and impacts between a housing and the actuator.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achievedby providing an actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk driveincluding a pivot bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring, and arolling member, which are installed coaxially, to support an actuatorarm to pivot. The apparatus also includes a support structure to supportupper and lower surfaces of the inner ring, and a buffer memberinterposed between at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of theinner ring and the support structure, to buffer vibrations and impacts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present inventionwill become more appreciated from the following description of thepreferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional hard diskdrive;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a vertical structure of anactuator supporting apparatus adopted in the hard disk drive of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a vertical structure of anactuator supporting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B are views illustrating various embodiments of abuffer member;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a vertical structure of anactuator supporting apparatus, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a vertical structure of anactuator supporting apparatus, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike elements throughout.

Referring to FIG. 3, an actuator supporting apparatus 100 of a hard diskdrive according to an embodiment of the present invention includes apivot bearing 120 including an inner ring 121, an outer ring 122, and aplurality of rolling members 123 arranged in two vertical rows betweenthe inner ring 121 and the outer ring 122, which are installedcoaxially. The actuator supporting apparatus 100 also includes a supportstructure 110 including a first coupling member 112 coupled to a base111 where the inner ring 121 is accommodated, and a mounting boss 111 avertically extending from the base 111, to support upper and lowersurfaces of the inner ring 121. The actuator supporting apparatus 100includes a second coupling member 150 coupled to the first couplingmember 112 to fix a cover 140 to the first coupling member 112, and abuffer member 160 interposed between a flange portion 112 a of the firstcoupling member 112, and an upper surface of the inner ring 121, toreduce vibrations and impacts.

Here, as the upper and lower surfaces of the inner ring 121 aresupported by the upper surface of the base 111 and the flange portion112 a of the first coupling member 112, the actuator arm 130 issupported to pivot.

Also, the buffer member 160 interposed between the flange portion 112 aof the first coupling member 112 and the upper surface of the inner ring121 absorbs vibration energy and impacts transferred between the cover140 and the pivot bearing 120, so that vibrations and impactstransferred between the cover 140 and the actuator arm 130 are reduced.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views for explaining embodiments of thebuffer members. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the buffer members 160 aand 160 b each includes a plate 161 having a predetermined strength anda damping member 162 deposited at at least one of both side surfaces ofthe plate 161. FIG. 4A shows the buffer member 160 a where the dampingmember 162 is deposited on one side surface of the plate 161. FIG. 4Bshows the buffer member 160 b where the damping member 162 is depositedon both side surfaces of the plate 161.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views of additional embodiments of thebuffer member. Referring to FIG. 5A, a buffer member 160 c includes theplate 161 where a groove 161 a has a uniform width and a predetermineddepth, and the damping member 162 is inserted in the groove 161 a of theplate 161. Also, as shown in FIG. 5B, the buffer member 160 d mayinclude the damping member 162 inserted in the groove 161 a formed inboth side surfaces of the plate 161.

According to the actuator supporting apparatus 100 as described above,the buffer member 160 is interposed between the flange portion 112 a ofthe first coupling member 112 and the upper surface of the inner ring121 of the pivot bearing 120. Since the cover 140 is directly fixed tothe first coupling member 112 by the second coupling member 150, afeature of buffering vibrations and impacts by the buffer member 160 isnot changed and is constantly maintained, regardless of accumulation ofmanufacture allowance of parts forming the actuator supporting apparatus100 or a change in the environment.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, an actuator supporting apparatus 200 of ahard disk drive, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention includes the pivot bearing 120 including the inner ring 121,the outer ring 122, and a plurality of the rolling members 123 arrangedin two vertical rows between the inner ring 121 and the outer ring 122,which are installed coaxially, to support the actuator arm 130 to pivot.The actuator supporting apparatus 200 also includes the supportstructure 110 including the first coupling member 112 coupled to thebase 111 where the inner ring 121 is accommodated and the mounting boss111 a vertically extending from the base 111, to support upper and lowersurfaces of the inner ring 121. The actuator supporting apparatus 200includes the second coupling member 150 coupled to the first couplingmember 112 to fix the cover 140 to the first coupling member 112, and abuffer member 260 interposed between the upper surface of the base 111and the lower surface of the inner ring 121 to buffer vibrations andimpacts. Here, the same buffer members 160 a, 160 b, 160 c, and 160 d asshown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B are used as the buffer member 260.Since the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 3 substantiallyindicate the same elements as shown in FIG. 6, detailed descriptionsthereof will be omitted herein.

According to the actuator supporting apparatus 200 having theabove-described structure, the buffer member 260 absorbs vibrationenergy and impacts transferred between the base 111 and the pivotbearing 120, so that the vibrations and impacts transferred between thebase 111 and the actuator arm 130 are reduced.

Referring to FIG. 7, an actuator supporting apparatus 300 of a hard diskdrive, according to another embodiment of the present invention includesthe pivot bearing 120 including the inner ring 121, the outer ring 122,and a plurality of the rolling members 123 arranged in two vertical rowsbetween the inner ring 121 and the outer ring 122, which are installedcoaxially, to support the actuator arm 130 to pivot. The actuatorsupporting apparatus 300 also includes the support structure 110including the first coupling member 112 coupled to the base 111 wherethe inner ring 121 is accommodated and the mounting boss 111 avertically extending from the base 111, to support upper and lowersurfaces of the inner ring 121. The actuator supporting apparatus 300includes the second coupling member 150 coupled to the first couplingmember 112 to fix the cover 140 to the first coupling member 112, and abuffer member 360 to buffer vibrations and impacts respectivelyinterposed between the flange portion 112 a of the first coupling member112 and the upper surface of the inner ring 121 of the pivot bearing120, and between the upper surface of the base 111 and the lower surfaceof the inner ring 121. Here, since the same reference numerals as thoseshown in FIG. 3 indicate the same elements as shown in FIG. 7, detaileddescriptions thereof will be omitted herein.

According to the actuator supporting apparatus 300 having theabove-described structure, the buffer member 360 absorbs vibrationenergy and impacts transferred not only between the cover 140 and thepivot bearing 120, but also between the base 111 and the pivot bearing120, so that the vibrations and impacts transferred between the cover140 and the base 111, the cover 140 and the actuator arm 130, and thebase 111 and the actuator arm 130 are reduced.

As described above, in the parts forming the actuator supportingapparatus of a hard disk drive according to the present invention, afeature of buffering vibrations and impacts by the buffer member is notchanged and constantly maintained, regardless of accumulation ofmanufacture allowance or a change in the environment. Also, a problem inreliability of a product due to deterioration of structural strength,which occurs in the conventional actuator supporting apparatus, does notoccur in the actuator supporting apparatus of the present invention.

Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

1. An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive, comprising: apivot bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rollingmember, which are installed coaxially, to support an actuator arm topivot; a support structure to support upper and lower surfaces of theinner ring, the support structure including a base to accommodate andsupport the inner ring, a coupling member coupled with the base, and amounting boss vertically extending from the base; and a buffer memberinterposed between at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of theinner ring and the support structure, to buffer vibrations and impacts.2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer member isinterposed between a flange portion of the coupling member and the uppersurface of the inner ring.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the buffer member is interposed between an upper surface of thebase and the lower surface of the inner ring.
 4. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer member is respectively interposedbetween a flange portion of the coupling member and the upper surface ofthe inner ring, and between an upper surface of the base and the lowersurface of the inner ring.
 5. An actuator supporting apparatus of a harddisk drive, comprising: a pivot bearing including an inner ring, anouter ring, and a rolling member, which are installed coaxially, tosupport an actuator arm to pivot; a support structure to support upperand lower surfaces of the inner ring; and a buffer member interposedbetween at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the inner ringand the support structure, to buffer vibrations and impacts, wherein thebuffer member comprises a plate having a predetermined strength, and adamping member deposited on one or both side surfaces of the plate. 6.An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive, comprising: apivot bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rollingmember, which are installed coaxially, to support an actuator arm topivot; a support structure to support upper and lower surfaces of theinner ring; and a buffer member interposed between at least one of theupper and lower surfaces of the inner ring and the support structure, tobuffer vibrations and impacts, wherein the buffer member comprises aplate having a groove formed along a circumferential direction to haveuniform depth and width, and a damping member inserted in the groove. 7.An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive which includes ahousing having a base and a cover, the apparatus comprising: a pivotbearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rolling member,which are installed coaxially, to support an actuator arm of theactuator supporting apparatus to pivot; a support structure having afirst coupling member coupled to the base to support the inner ringaccommodated by the base, and a second coupling member coupled to thefirst coupling member to fix the cover to the first coupling member; amounting boss to vertically extend from the base; and a buffer memberinterposed between a flange portion of the first coupling member and theinner ring to buffer vibrations and impacts.
 8. The apparatus as claimedin claim 7, wherein the inner ring is coupled to the base and flangeportion of the first coupling member, so that the actuator arm issupported to pivot.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein thebuffer member interposed between the flange portion of the firstcoupling member and the inner ring absorbs vibration energy and impactstransferred between the cover and the pivot bearing, so that vibrationsand impacts transferred between the cover and the actuator arm arereduced.
 10. An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive whichincludes a housing having a base and a cover, the apparatus comprising:a pivot bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rollingmember, which are installed coaxially, to support an actuator arm of theactuator supporting apparatus to pivot; a support structure having afirst coupling member coupled to the base to support the inner ringaccommodated by the base, and a second coupling member coupled to thefirst coupling member to fix the cover to the first coupling member; amounting boss to vertically extend from the base; and a buffer memberinterposed between the base and the inner ring to buffer vibrations andimpacts.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the innerring is coupled to the base and flange portion of the first couplingmember, so that the actuator arm is supported to pivot.
 12. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the buffer member interposedbetween the base and the inner ring absorbs vibration energy and impactstransferred between the base and the pivot bearing, so that vibrationsand impacts transferred between the base and the actuator arm arereduced.
 13. An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive whichincludes a housing having a base and a cover, the apparatus comprising:a pivot bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rollingmember, which are installed coaxially, to support an actuator arm of theactuator supporting apparatus to pivot; a support structure having afirst coupling member coupled to the base to support the inner ringaccommodated by the base, and a second coupling member coupled to thefirst coupling member to fix the cover to the first coupling member; amounting boss to vertically extend from the base; and a buffer memberinterposed between a flange portion of the first coupling member and theinner ring, and between the base and the inner ring to buffer vibrationsand impacts.
 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the innerring is coupled to the base and flange portion of the first couplingmember, so that the actuator arm is supported to pivot.
 15. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the buffer member absorbsvibration energy and impacts transferred between the cover and the pivotbearing, and the base and the pivot bearing, respectively, so thatvibrations and impacts transferred between the cover and the base, thecover and the actuator arm, and the base and the actuator arm arereduced.
 16. An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive thatincludes a housing having a base and a cover, the apparatus comprising:a pivot bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rollingmember, which are installed coaxially, to pivotably support an actuatorarm of the actuator supporting apparatus; a support structure having afirst coupling member coupled to the base to support the inner ringaccommodated by the base, and a second coupling member coupled to thefirst coupling member to fix the cover to the first coupling member; anda buffer member interposed between at least one of a flange portion ofthe first coupling member and the inner ring, or the base and the innerring, to buffer vibrations and impacts, the buffer member comprising aplate having a predetermined strength, and a damping member disposed onone or more of opposing side surfaces of the plate.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein: the plate has a groove with uniformdepth and width positioned coaxially with the plate; and the dampingmember is disposed in the groove.
 18. The apparatus according to claim16, wherein: the plate has a predetermined strength; and a dampingmember is disposed on one or more of opposing side surfaces of theplate.
 19. An actuator supporting apparatus of a hard disk drive thatincludes a housing having a base and a cover, the apparatus comprising:a pivot bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rollingmember, which are installed coaxially, to pivotably support an actuatorarm of the actuator supporting apparatus; a support structure having afirst coupling member coupled to the base to support the inner ringaccommodated by the base, and a second coupling member coupled to thefirst coupling member to fix the cover to the first coupling member; anda buffer member interposed between at least one of a flange portion ofthe first coupling member and the inner ring, or the base and the innerring, to buffer vibrations and impacts, the buffer member comprising aplate having a groove with uniform depth and width positioned coaxiallywith the plate, and a damping member disposed in the groove.